January 2025 Newsletter
In this edition: 2025 Legislative Priorities | Successes We are Celebrating | Let’s Start 2025 off Right | Team Highlights | Join Our team | News We Are Reading | Upcoming Events
Dear Reader,
We’re kicking off the year with big wins and exciting updates! In the 2025 Legislative Session, we are focused on winning policies that protect public health and promote environmental justice and create a cleaner, healthier future for all New Yorkers. This includes eliminating PFAS and other toxics in products and the environment, and expanding primary prevention lead paint.
At the end of 2024, Governor Hochul signed the Diaper Disclosure Act, giving us all information about the chemicals in diapers and other incontinence products. NY’s PFAS ban in apparel is now in effect as of Jan 1st. And just this week, Senator Fernandez’s bill to ban PFAS and other toxics in period products passed the Senate unanimously!
And also hot off the presses: it’s official, C+H is proud to be a statutory partner in the (ALL)bany Together project, driving change and empowering marginalized communities in Albany. In 2025, we will continue to join Albany allies to Reimagine Albany - especially focused on I-787 and reconnecting communities to each other and to the Hudson River. And with the Governor’s allocation of $400M to invest in Albany infrastructure and community, our focus with our allies on centering community voices and needs will be an essential part of this exciting transformation.
Our team is growing and thriving! We’re thrilled to announce our former Financial & Admin Manager, Krista, is now our Director of Program Management. We’re hiring for several roles including Office Manager, Reimagine Albany Project Manager, Development Coordinator, and Legislative Intern.
You can be an important part of the work - mark your calendars for upcoming advocacy days: JustGreen Partnership & PFAS-Free NY Advocacy Day on February 5th and Earth Day Advocacy Day on April 29th, both in the Capitol in Albany.
We have work ahead, and deeply appreciate all you do.
With gratitude,
Bobbi Wilding, Executive Director
2025 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Ban on PFAS in Consumer Products: This bill joins states across the US in banning the sale of PFAS in everyday household and office products dental floss, cleaning products, cookware, ski wax, architectural paint, textiles, rugs, and children’s products.
The Beauty Justice Act: This bill builds on efforts in other states to ban toxic ingredients including PFAS and chemicals shown to harm women and femmes of color, like heavy metals, formaldehyde, phthalates, and parabens in personal care products sold in NYS. These chemicals can cause or contribute to asthma, allergies, hormone disruption, neurodevelopmental problems, infertility, and even cancer.
Ban on PFAS and other Toxics in Menstrual Products: Toxic chemicals have no place in period products, and this bill will ensure that menstrual products sold in New York State are made without toxics including PFAS, lead, mercury, formaldehyde, and toluene, which can cause or contribute to cancer, hormone disruption, and infertility. This bill already passed the NYS Senate unanimously yesterday!
Lead Paint Right to Know Act: The Act is an essential part of New York’s transition to a primary prevention state for lead poisoning. It will require homeowners to provide test results for lead-based paint in homes to buyers before the residential property is sold, and will keep the results on file for future buyers and tenants at a publicly accessible statewide lead-in-housing registry (being initiated as a rental registry under recent Public Health Law 1377).
Ban Toxic Chemicals in Packaging: The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act includes restrictions on fifteen chemicals, classes and materials that can cause or contribute to human health and environmental problems. This includes PFAS. As reuse of materials increases, it becomes even more important that original materials are free of harmful chemicals.
SUCCESS! GOVERNOR HOCHUL OFFICALLY SIGNED THE DIAPER DISCLOSURE ACT
In mid-December, Governor Hochul signed the Diaper Disclosure Bill into law! This makes New York State the first state in the nation to require ingredient disclosure on diaper product packaging. We are thrilled that Clean+Healthy was able to aid in continuing New York State’s legacy in being a leader in protecting consumers from toxics because ingredients in products shouldn't be a mystery and now consumers can make informed decisions while shopping for diapers and adult incontinence products.
NY BAN ON PFAS "FOREVER CHEMICALS" IN APPAREL IN EFFECT 01/01/2025
January 1, 2025 marked the official start of New York State’s ban on PFAS “forever chemicals” in apparel sold in the state. This groundbreaking legislation represents a pivotal step in reducing the use of this class of over 15,000 “forever chemicals” that wreak havoc on human health and the environment. The PFAS in Apparel Law prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of clothing containing intentionally added PFAS. With this legislation, New York becomes a leader in addressing the prevalence of PFAS in everyday products. We are proud to be a part of this pivotal legislation, making us one step closer to living toxic free.
EPA GRANTED $20 MILLION TO FUND ALL(BANY) TOGETHER CLIMATE & HEALTH RESILIENCE EQUITY PROJECT
The ALL(bany) Together Project is spearheaded by a coalition of eight organizations led by the Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region, in which Clean+Healthy is the Statutory Partner. The project will work on transforming Albany, and strengthen and support marginalized communities that have been overlooked for too long.
As a statutory partner, C+H is thrilled that EPA is investing in making Albany a healthier, more resilient city for its residents.
Partners: Affordable Housing Partnership, Arbor Hill Development Corporation, AVillage, Capital Area Urban League, The Radix Center, Underground Railroad Education Center
HELP US START 2025 ON A HIGH NOTE!
Did you know we rely on gifts from donors like you to power our state policy advocacy? Making a monthly donation will give us more momentum to pass bills during session, continue our work in Albany, and support our communities.
TEAM HIGHLIGHTS
Congratulations Krista! Formerly our Finance & Administrative Manager, Krista has been promoted to Clean+Healthy’s Director of Program Management. With this new position, Krista’s new internal leadership position will support staff & programs to ensure organizational goals and mission are achieved. This includes overall project management, fostering effective collaboration and communication, monitoring, measuring, and evaluating outcomes, and budget and grant management. C+H is lucky to have Krista and are looking forward to seeing her thrive in her new role!
WE'RE GROWING
We are excited to announce that we have three open positions- with two more announced shortly. Do you want to be part of the movement to build a just and healthy world, free of toxics? Check out these positions! Please share with anyone you know who would be a good fit.
Financial management, administrative, event planning, and human resources management position.
Reimagine Albany Project Manager:
A unique opportunity to contribute to a transformational project that will improve the health, mobility, and overall quality of life for Albany residents while addressing long-standing inequities in infrastructure planning.
Provide support for the organization’s relationships with individuals, businesses, and foundations that lead to donations that meet the annual budget projections and drive diverse sources of funds, in collaboration with administrative and program staff, especially the Executive Director.
A temporary, part-time position; work includes providing project and campaign support to staff. Clean+Healthy will provide an introductory orientation to current campaigns and provide additional resources as necessary.
NEWS WE ARE READING
2025 People’s Budget- focused on PFAS & Lead as public concern.
The 2025 People's Budget represents a bold and actionable plan prioritizing minority New Yorkers.This year, the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus acknowledged PFAS & Lead as a major concern for public health.
Biden Admin ends expedited reviews for “forever chemicals”
The Biden administration has barred PFAS chemicals from expedited safety reviews to ensure thorough evaluations before their use in products. Closing regulatory loopholes limits PFAS exposure and aligns with broader efforts to manage toxic chemical risks.
PFAS & micro plastics become more toxic when combined, research shows
New research reveals that when PFAS and microplastics combine, their toxic effects amplify, causing severe harm to wildlife and potentially humans causing issues like: stunt growth, delayed maturity, and lower birth rates.
Upcoming Events
JustGreen Partnership & PFAS Free NY Campaign Advocacy Day
Join advocates and environmental organizations on February 05, 2025 to fighting for a PFAS Free NY by eliminating unnecessary PFAS use in consumer products and addressing PFAS in air, water, and soil. Register here!
Save the date for the Earth Day Advocacy Day!
Our annual Earth Day Advocacy Day (EDAD) is taking place on April 29, 2025. Mark you calendars!
Environmental organizations from across New York State will be in Albany for our annual EDAD to meet with legislators to discuss our Legislative Priority Bills. Stay tuned for more information!
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Did you make it to the bottom? THANK YOU! If so, send an email to Jasmine and tell her what you’d like to see in the next newsletter! jasmine@cleanhealthyny.org
